Dynamic shutoff valve

ABSTRACT

A shutoff valve for main supply conduits in fluid-handling systems, such as fixed fire protection systems, where it is imperative that the supply conduit remain open at all times except when repairs and other maintenance operations require the system to be shut off. The valve is biased open and includes an actuator which moves the valve to and maintains it in a closed position in response to an energy input, the cessation of which effects return movement of the valve to its normal open position.

United States Patent Livingston [54] DYNAMIC SHUTOFF VALVE [72]Inventor: William L. Livingston, Sharon, Mass. [73] Assignee: FactoryMutual Research Corporation [22] Filed: Aug. 11, 1969 [21] Appl. No.:848,986

[52] US. Cl ..251/5, 251/57, 418/266 [51] Int. Cl ..F16k 7/07 [58]FieldofSearch ..251/5, 57,4, 6,7,9, 10,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,197,995 4/ 1940 Crowley..251/7 3,188,011 6/1965 Temullo ..251/57 X 3,220,652 11/1965 Cape....251/7 X 722,185 Robinson ..4l8/266 Feb. 22, 1972 1,873,138 8/1932Mitchell ..251/5 2,590,215 3/1952 Sausa ..25l/5 X 3,322,147 5/1967Barrows ..251/5 X Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek AssistantExaminer-Richard Gerard Attorney-Lane, Aitken, Dunner & Ziems [57]ABSTRACT A shutoff valve for main supply conduits in fluid-handlingsystems, such as fixed fire protection systems, where it is imperativethat the supply conduit remain open at all times except when repairs andother maintenance operations require the system to be shut otf. Thevalve is biased open and in cludes an actuator which moves the valve toand maintains it in a closed position in response to an energy input,the cessation of which effects return movement of the valve to itsnormal open position.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEIIFEB22 I972 8,643,912

sum 1 or 2 FIG.I.

mvm'wn WILLIAM L. LIVINGSTON 5;, g 0% WW A ORNEYS PATENTEDFEBZZIQYZ v3.643.912

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mvm'ron WlLLIAM L4 LIVINGSTON I'TORNEYS 1 DYNAMIC SIIUTOFF VALVEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to dynamic shutoffvalves, and more particularly, it concerns a valve and actuator assemblyespecially suited for use as a main service valve in a conduit whichsupplies a fluid to a system having branch lines, each in turn havingits own independently controlled, normally closed valve for directingthe fluid to its point of use.

In fixed fire-extinguishing systems of the type in which water or othersuitable extinguishant is discharged through sprinkler heads locatedthroughout a building or other space to be protected automatically inresponse to thennoactuation of one or more sprinkler heads, it isconventional practice to provide a main or system shutoff valve in theconduit connecting the system to a municipal or other water main.Shutoff valves of this type are necessary for such servicing operationsto the system as the replacement of sprinkler heads, repairing leaks,and otherwise maintaining the system in operative condition. While manydiverse types of commercially available valves are admirably suited totheir intended function of shutting off the system from the water supplymain, all such valves pose serious problems to the passage of water orother extinguishant to the point where it is needed (i.e., the sprinklerheads) upon the existence of a fire.

Comprehensive studies conducted recently have shown that a common sourceof failure in automatic fire-extinguishing systems of the type used toprotect buildings and their contents, is that the main shutoff valve wasinadvertently left closed, thereby disabling the system from itsintended function. While rigorous inspection programs provide a partialanswer to the problem, the normally dormant or inactive condition of afire-extinguishing system invites a maintenance approach in which therepair of a troublesome leak is more readily put off to a future time byclosing the main shutoff valve until time can be found to make therepairs. Though obviously, such an approach is diametrically opposed tothe basic purpose of the fire extinguishing system, it neverthelessprevails among the maintenance staffs of numerous buildings and is oneof the principal current causes of property loss by fire.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In accordance with the presentinvention, a shutoff valve for systems of the type referred to isprovided with an actuating arrangement which requires an energy inputnot only to move the valve to its closed position and to maintain itthere, but which will also effect movement of the valve to its openposition upon termination of the actuating energy input. Morespecifically, the preferred valve structure contemplated by the presentinvention involves a diaphragmlike closing member normally biased to itsopen position and closable by fluid pressure developed by a pump whichwill maintain closing pressures only when actuated. Preferably, a largecapacity, leaky," rotary vane pump equipped with a handcrank is used todevelop the closing control fluid pressure. Also, it is preferred thatthe control fluid be the line fluid or water tapped from the main,upstream from the shutoff valve, so that line pressure augments thecapacity of the pump.

Among the principal objects of the present invention are therefore: theprovision of a main shutoff valve for fluid systems of the type referredto, which requires a continuous energy input to maintain the valve in aclosed position and in a manner such that termination of the energyinput will restore the valve to its open position automatically; and theprovision of a main shutoff valve for fire-extinguishing systems whichrequires a continuous positive action on the part of an attendant tomaintain the valve in a closed position, thereby ensuring the valvemoving to an open position upon cessation of such action. Other objectsand further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description to follow taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theshutoff valve of this invention with the related components of a fireextinguishing system shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1 ofthe drawings, the dynamic shutoff valve of this invention is generallydesignated by the reference numeral 10 and includes a generallycylindrical body or housing 11 having an enlarged central portion 12 anda pair of connecting flanges l4 and 15 on opposite ends. The valve isadapted to be connected at its inlet end 14 by flange bolts 16 to a feedconduit 18 in turn coupled to a water main 20. The outlet end 15 of thevalve is similarly connected to a discharge conduit 22 connected to ariser 24 extending to sprinkler heads 26 by way of branch lines 28. Itwill be appreciated therefore, that the portion of the system shown inFIG. I by phantom lines, namely, the riser 24, sprinkler heads 26 andthe branch lines 28 form part of a conventional fire-extinguishingsystem, the sprinkler heads 26 carrying thermally actuated means toeffect automatic disbursement of water from the sprinkler heads upon theexistence of fire temperatures in their immediate vicinity. Since thisportion is exposed to line pressure from the main 20, it is apparentthat before such maintenance operations as the replacement of faultysprinkler heads, repair of leaks in the riser 24 or in the branch lines28 can be accomplished, it is necessary that the valve 10 be closed toisolate the system from the main 20. Since it may also be necessary toremove water existing in the system before such repairs are made, adrain 30 is provided in the conduit 22, downstream from the valve 10 andfitted with a manually operated globe valve 32. A pressure gauge 34 ispositioned ahead of the globe valve 32 in the drain line 30 to indicateline pressure in the fire-extinguishing system and also to indicate theopen or closed position of the main valve 10 in a manner thatwill bedescribed in more detail below.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the valve 10includes an interior diaphramlike member in the form of a tubular boot36 of rubber or other elastomeric materialhaving outwardly flairedflange portions 38 to be secured between the respective inlet and outletflanges l4 and 15 on the valve housing 11 and the flanges on theconduits l8 and 22. The boot 36 is relatively thick and nonnallymaintains a generally concentric position within the housing as shown insolid lines in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this position, it will be noted thatthe boot 36 defines with the central portion I2 of the housing 11 asealed annular expansible chamber 40 extending over the major portion ofthe length of the boot. Hence, it will be appreciated when the pressurein the annular chamber 40 exceeds the line pressure or that existingwithin the boot, the latter will collapse to the position illustrated inphantom lines 2 and 3 and shut off communication between the conduits l8and 22.

To effect movement of the valve between its open and closed positions asdescribed above, the chamber 40 is in communication through a line 42with the outlet of a large capacity rotary vane pump 44, the inlet ofwhich is connected to the line 18, upstream from the valve 10, by atapline 46. Hence, when the pump is actuated, water in the conduit 18will be pumped into the chamber 40, causing the boot 36 to move from itsopen position as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 to the closed positionas shown in phantom lines therein.

The pump 44, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, includes a housing or stator 48shaped interiorly to define a cylindrical chamber 50. Eccentricallymounted within the chamber 50 is a rotor 52 carrying a plurality ofslidable vanes 54 biased outwardly by suitable means such as springs 56into engagement with the interior cylindrical wall surface of thehousing 48. The rotor 52 is keyed to a shaft 58 carrying a handcrank 60which when turned to rotate the rotor in a clockwise direction, as shownin FIG. 4, will operate to pump water from the tapline 46 through thechamber 50 and out through the line 42. As above mentioned, it ispreferred that the pump 44 be of relatively large capacity to enablemovement of the boot 36 from its open to closed position, and also tomaintain it in its closed position, with a reasonable amount of manualeffort. An important aspect of the pump capacity in accordance with thepresent invention, however, is that it must be inherently or otherwiseleaky so that in the event the motion of the handcrank is terminated,the bias of the boot 36 towards its normally opened position will effectpassage of fluid from the chamber 40 back through the pump to the line18. Although most commercially available pumps of the type having acapacity suited for use with this invention have a sufficient amount ofinherent leakage to facilitate such reverse flow of water, it isdesirable under certain conditions to augment this inherent leakage bydrilling small holes 58 through the vanes 54 of the pump. It will beappreciated that although the holes or ports 58 may be of such smallflow capacity that they will not significantly impede the pumpingfunction of the vanes 54, they will permit reverse flow through the pumpfrom the line 42 to the tapline 46 under the pressure exerted by theboot 36 upon restoration to its original or open condition.

In operation, when it is desired to isolate the line pressure in themain 20 and in the conduit 18 from the conduit 22 and the remainder ofthe fire-extinguishing system, it is necessary for an attendant to turnthe handcrank and pump water from the upstream side of the valve intothe chamber 40 to collapse the boot 36 closing the shutoff valve 10.Moreover, it is necessary for the attendant to continue turning thecrank to maintain the valve in its closed position. While the valve ismaintained closed, the water downstream from the valve 10 may be drainedby opening the globe valve 32 and necessary repairs be made to thefire-extinguishing system. When, however, actuation of the pump isterminated, the boot 36 will, of its own resiliency, move to the openposition, and in doing so, force water back through the line 42, thepump 44 and into the line 18 thereby reestablishing communicationbetween the main 20 and the sprinkler heads 26.

Thus it will be appreciated that by this invention there is provided animproved dynamic shutoff valve by which the above-mentioned objectivesare completely fulfilled. The valve is highly effective in shutting offthe system even though the water therein is dirty and contains particleswhich could block seating of normal gate valves for example, because ofthe large seating area and flexibility of the boot 36. Moresignificantly, however, the inherent or internal bias of the boot to anopen position insures that it will open without reliance on a singleadditional functioning part other than the pump which will leak of itsown inherent defects to remove the pressure holding the valve closedl itis contemplated that variations may be made in the disclosed embodimentwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the presentinvention. For example, the handcrank 60 may be replaced by anappropriate power source such as an electric motor supplied by currentthrough a circuit including a switching arrangement requiring continuousattention for operation, it being imperative only that the motor andthus the pump stop operation upon the cessation of such attention. Itwill be apparent that other such departures from the embodimentdisclosed may be made in keeping with the spirit and scope to which thepresent invention is entitled.

I claim:

1. A shutoff valve for a main supply conduit, said shutoff valvecomprising a housing having inlet and outlet passages registering withsaid conduit; valve means disposed within said housing and continuouslybiased to an open position, said valve means being responsive to thepresence of pressurized fluid in said housing for moving from said openposition to a closed position to block fluid flow between said inlet andoutlet passages; and delivery means to deliver pressurized fluid to saidhousing to close said valve means, said delivery means having apredetermined fluid leakage requiring a monitored continuous energyinput to maintain said valve means in said closed position.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises atubular boot defining a passage between said inlet and outlet passagesof said housing, said boot being formed of elastomeric material andpositioned within said housing so that the exterior thereof forms asealed chamber with said housing, and wherein said delivery meansdelivers said pressurized fluid to said chamber in response to saidenergy input so that said boot collapses on itself to establish saidclosed position.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said delivery meanscomprises a stator defining an interior cylindrical chamber having inletand outlet ports, a rotor mounted eccentrically within said chamber andhaving movable vanes mounted therein for cooperation with saidcylindrical chamber to pump said fluid between said inlet and outletports when said rotor is rotated, and means for rotating said rotor inresponse to said energy input.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 3 wherein said vanes have openingspassing therethrough to ensure reverse flow of said fluid through saiddelivery means when said rotor is stationary.

5. A shutoff valve for a main supply conduit from which fluid issupplied to a plurality of distribution points each having normallyclosed, independently controlled, local fluid control means, saidshutoff valve comprising a housing having inlet and outlet passages;resilient valve means within said housing, said valve means having aninherent internal bias to an open position but movable to a closedposition to block fluid flow between said inlet and outlet passages;means defining an expansible chamber to receive pressurized fluid formoving said valve means from said open position to said closed position;pump means to deliver pressurized fluid to said chamber to close saidvalve means, said pump means requiring a monitored continuous energyinput to maintain said valve means in said closed position; and conduitmeans connected between the main supply conduit upstream from said valvemeans and the inlet of said pump means.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 5 wherein said pump means comprises astator defining an interior cylindrical chamber having inlet and outletports, a rotor mounted eccentrically within said chamber and havingmovable vanes mounted therein for cooperation with said cylindricalchamber to pump said fluid between said inlet and outlet ports when saidrotor is rotated, and means for rotating said rotor in response to saidenergy input.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 6 wherein said means to rotate saidrotor includes a handcrank to receive said energy input.

8. A shutoff valve for a main supply conduit from which fluid issupplied to a plurality of distribution points each having normallyclosed, independently controlled, local valve means, said shutoff fluidcontrol comprising a housing having inlet and outlet passages; resilientvalve means within said housing, said valve means having an inherentinternal bias to an open position but movable to a closed position toblock fluid flow between said inlet and outlet passages; means definingan expansible chamber to receive pressurized fluid for moving said valvemeans from said open position to said closed position; pump means todeliver pressurized fluid to said chamber to close said valve means,said pump means comprising a stator defining an interior cylindricalchamber having inlet and outlet ports, a rotor mounted eccentricallywithin said chamber and having movable vanes mounted therein forcooperation with said cylindrical chamber to pump fluid between saidinlet and outlet ports when said rotor is rotated, said vanes havingopenings passing therethrough to ensure reverse flow of fluid throughsaid pump when said rotor is stationary, and means for rotating saidrotor in response to an energy input; said pump means requiring amonitored continuous energy input to maintain said valve means in saidclosed position so that upon cessation of said energy input, said valvemeans will return automatically to said open position.

UNI'IED S'lA'lES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CQRRECTION 3543-1912 DatedJ 2;

William L. Livingston Patent No.

Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, lines 55 and 56, "local valve means, said shutoff fluidcontrol" should read local fluid control means,

said shutoff valve-- Signed and sealed this 15th day of August 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. A shutoff valve for a main supply conduit, said shutoff valvecomprising a housing having inlet and outlet passages registering withsaid conduit; valve means disposed within said housing and continuouslybiased to an open position, said valve means being responsive to thepresence of pressurized fluid in said housing for moving from said openposition to a closed position to block fluid flow between said inlet andoutlet passages; and delivery means to deliver pressurized fluid to saidhousing to close said valve means, said delivery means having apredetermined fluid leakage requiring a monitored continuous energyinput to maintain said valve means in said closed position.
 2. Theapparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises atubular boot defining a passage between said inlet and outlet passagesof said housing, said boot being formed of elastomeric material andpositioned within said housing so that the exterior thereof forms asealed chamber with said housing, and wherein said delivery meansdelivers said pressurized fluid to said chamber in response to saidenergy input so that said boot collapses on itself to establish saidclosed position.
 3. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein saiddelivery means comprises a stator defining an interior cylindricalchamber having inlet and outlet ports, a rotor mounted eccentricallywithin said chamber and having movable vanes mounted therein forcooperation with said cylindrical chamber to pump said fluid betweensaid inlet and outlet ports when said rotor is rotated, and means forrotating said rotor in response to said energy input.
 4. The apparatusrecited in claim 3 wherein said vanes have openings passing therethroughto ensure reverse flow of said fluid through said delivery means whensaid rotor is stationary.
 5. A shutoff valve for a main supply conduitfrom which fluid is supplied to a plurality of distribution points eachhaving normally closed, independently controlled, local fluid controlmeans, said shutoff valve comprising a housing having inlet and outletpassages; resilient valve means within said housing, said valve meanshaving an inherent internal bias to an open position but movable to aclosed position to block fluid flow between said inlet and outletpassages; means defining an expansible chamber to receive pressurizedfluid for moving said valve means from said open position to said closedposition; pump means to deliver pressurized fluid to said chamber toclose said valve means, said pump means requiring a monitored continuousenergy input to maintain said valve means in said closed position; andconduit means connected between the main supply conduit upstream fromsaid valve means and the inlet of said pump means.
 6. The apparatusrecited in claim 5 wherein said pump means comprises a stator definingan interior cylindrical chamber having inlet and outlet ports, a rotormounted eccentrically within said chamber and having movable vanesmounted therein for cooperation with said cylindrical chamber to pumpsaid fluid between said inlet and outlet ports when said rotor isrotated, and means for rotating said rotor in response to said energyinput.
 7. The apparatus recited in claim 6 wherein said means to rotatesaid rotor includes a handcrank to receive said energy input.
 8. Ashutoff valve for a main supply conduit from which fluid is supplied toa plurality of distribution points each having normally closed,independently controlled, local valve means, said shutoff fluid controlcomprising a housing having inlet and outlet passages; resilient valvemeans within said housing, said valve means having an inherent internalbias to an open position but movable to a closed position to block fluidflow between said inlet and outlet passages; means defining anexpansible chamber to receive pressurized fluid for moving said valvemeans from said open position to said closed position; pump means todeliver pressurized fluid to said chamber to close said valve means,said pump means comprising a stator defining an interior cylindricalchamber having inlet and outlet ports, a rotor mounted eccentricallywithin said chamber and having movable vanes mounted therein forcooperation with said cylindrical chamber to pump fluid between saidinlet and outlet ports when said rotor is rotated, said vanes havingopenings passing therethrough to ensure reverse flow of fluid throughsaid pump when said rotor is stationary, and means for rotating saidrotor in response to an energy input; said pump means requiring amonitored continuous energy input to maintain said valve means in saidclosed position so that upon cessation of said energy input, said valvemeans will return automatically to said open position.